rTMS for Motor Skill Learning

Overseen By Zachary A Riley

Age: 18 - 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Indiana University

Must not be taking: Stimulants

Disqualifiers: Neurological damage, Visual impairment, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 1 day

32 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

When learning a new skill, much of the improvement comes from small alterations the brain makes with each repetition during practice, but this isn't the only time that improvements are made during the learning process. Individuals also get better at the motor skills during the time between practices, through a process called "consolidation." It is known that an area of the brain called the primary motor cortex is involved in learning during active practice, but the investigators want to study if the primary motor cortex is important for consolidation. The investigators will examine how lowering the activity in this brain region affects your ability to consolidate learning to play a song on the videogame Guitar Hero.

Who Is on the Research Team?

Zachary Riley

Principal Investigator

Professor

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults aged 18-45 who have no major vision problems, no neurological diseases or injuries affecting their arms, and can safely undergo brain stimulation. Participants should be able to play video games and not have conditions that increase risk with brain stimulation.

Inclusion Criteria

No significant visual impairment that would prevent them from playing a video game

I am between 18 and 45 years old.

I do not have nerve or brain conditions affecting my arms or hands.

Exclusion Criteria

Consumption of over-the-counter stimulants such as caffeine or nicotine (coffee, soda, supplements, energy drinks, tobacco products, or other nicotine containing products such as gum, vape pens, etc...) 12 hours prior to entering the lab on the day of testing as this can directly affect cortical excitability. If a subject takes any of these substances 12 hours prior to the study visit they will be asked to reschedule for a later date

Have played a real stringed instrument in the last 12 months (e.g. guitar, bass, violin)

Have played the videogame 'Guitar Hero' on a traditional guitar controller in the last 12 months.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive rTMS or sham stimulation to study its effects on motor cortex excitability and learning

1 day

2 sessions on the first day

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in video game performance and cortical excitability

1 day

1 session on the follow-up day

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• rTMS

Trial Overview

The study tests whether reducing activity in a part of the brain called the primary motor cortex using rTMS (a non-invasive magnetic stimulation) affects how well people improve at playing a song on Guitar Hero after practice sessions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: rTMS stimulation group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

this group will receive 15 minutes of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex while seated quietly

Group II: SHAM stimulation group Placebo Group 1 Intervention

This group will have the same stimulating wand placed over the head, but at a distance far enough away as to not activate the cortical neurons.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Indiana University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,063

Recruited

1,182,000+